Why are there so many names for the different phases of life from birth through teens (baby, toddler, pre-schooler, kindergartner, grade-schooler, pre-teen, tweener) and almost none for the 60+ years that follow?

It’s not fair! I mean, you’re not just young, then old! For example, I clearly hit Second Puberty around age 40, when all of those little hairs started popping out in weird places.

Thanks MItch. This made me remember Erik and Joan Erikson’s stages of life. In adulthood, they identified the polarized struggles: Intimacy versus Isolation, Generativity versus Stagnation, and Ego Integration verses Despair…Joan noted a 9th stage for the very elderly…I think all of our dialectics are undergirded by a search for meaning, for the Holy, for the strength necessary to be compassionate…

This is so true! Why are there no names for those of us who are no longer quite middle age, but yet also not senior citizens? (And I may only be 60, but I do think all politicians are the same…people with more egos than brains, although that is distinctly unChristian to say to say, God forgive me.) As for my names for this stage? I’d love “wise and wonderful”, but no one says that…..

Fun, yes, I agree we need more names, labels labels labels get yer labels here, slap one on and move along. Bwah ha ha. At 53 I’m past middle age (not likely to make it to 106) but not quite into coffin fittings yet so I usually go with “still not dead”. We’re asking a lot of the “old” label if it’s actually supposed to carry us all the way from average middle age of 40 to 78(average for us life expectancy). Then what do we call the ones who live past 78, the living dead? high achievers? hmmmm

Nice, glib observations, Mitch. Your view of 80 +’ers contradicts the MSM view of advanced seniors as crabby old ultraconservatives. I am inclined to agree with you on this- having heard at least one octogenarian fume: “The government had better not mess with my Medicare!”

Nice ideas Mitch, but they are all negative. How about: Travelers (60 plus) because we have the time and money for it, Luncher (60 plusI can go out for lunch now) my favourite for 60s Why did I come in here-ers. That is my two cents worth.